Breaking News

On Saturday, a lightning strike killed some persons and left many more injured at a Seventh-Day Adventist church in the southern district of Nyaruguru, Rwanda.

This incident took place around noon on Saturday, when the members of the church were involved in a church service.

About 16 persons were killed instantly, two persons died from injuries, and 140 persons were quickly rushed to nearby hospitals.

Local mayor Habitegeko Francois has this to say regarding the ongoing treatment being carried on injured victims;

"Doctors say that only three churchgoers are in critical condition but they are getting better."

He says that this is not the first time something of this nature has occurred. He reports that previously on Friday, lightning also struck a group of about 18 students, killing one and left the rest injured. Some have been able to return home from the hospitals. However 3 of the students are still receiving treatment.

This doesn't speak well of the churches in Rwanda because not up to a month ago more than 700 churches were closed because of failure to adhere to the regulations associated with building structures. For example, majority of the churches did not that the proper devices to arrest protect the building from lightning.
They were also charged with noise pollution.